Council firms up regulations after ethics probe

KERRY County Council has confirmed it is complying with a key recommendation by the Standards in Public Office Commission following the body’s recent investigation into two Killarney councillors.

A council spokesman said officials would remind elected members of ethics regulations at the beginning of each council meeting, including town councils, when planning matters are on the agenda.

This was recommended in the commission’s report on Killarney town councillors Patrick O’Donoghue (Fianna Fáil) and Sheila Casey (Fine Gael) in relation to a zoning controversy.

The commission found Mr O’Donoghue may have breached two sections of the Local Government Act in his actions regarding amotion to rezone land at the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney.

He denies trying to influence the council’s decision.

The commission found offences may have been committed and sent its report to the DPP.